I guess my point is that Laughton looked primed to be a part of the club at the start of the season, and there is still a possibility. However, the Flyers are looking to add a big piece on D. They just signed a very good, big fourth line center, whos best assets are F/O and his d-play.

Do we role into the season looking like this

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Talbot-Couts-Read
Rinaldo-Laughton-Hall

Timonen-Schenn
Streit-Coburn
Grossmann-Gusty
Meszy...

OR

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Talbot-Laughton-Read
Rinaldo-Hall-McGrinn

Timonen-Yandle/other acquired D-man
Streit-Schenn
Grossman-Gusty
- jak521

I hope they could get a better all around dman for Coutuerier and Coburn than Yandle. But that second group of defenseman does look good.

I know everybody loves G, but Cooty is my favorite Flyer
- vejim

Kid has a bright future. Don't want to see him get moved.

I think it would be a mistake. But I'm open to dealing anyone if it improves the team. Have to wait to see the return if he did get traded.
- PLindbergh31

I just think it is really weird that Homer had said they were not going to resign Hall. Yesterday he goes out and resigns Hall. I understand that looking at it directly, it really shouldnt have an influence, but with Laughton looking primed to come up, and a need at the blue line.. it just makes me think.

At least we know the threshold for making the doom and gloomers in realistic sheep's clothing STFU. One more Cup win for Philly and they get a lifetime pass. That explains why the Pens' front office isn't getting killed in the press while the Flyers are.
- Flyskippy

Snider is staying alive until the Flyers win another cup, he will pay whatever it takes for the latest medical advances.

It's not more accurate if you're going to compare Giroux's new deal, because you can no longer have those low years on the back end. And you'd be comparing apples to oranges. No matter how you look at it. Salaries have escalated. A lot.
- MJL

No they haven't. Giroux's extension can't be front loaded to circumvent the cap so it's a truer measure of his salary. You compare that to Vinny's from 10 years ago. Using the first years of a front loaded cap circumventing contract as an example is misleading. You only win arguments inside your own little mind with your double standards. I'm done with this debate with you.

Players in the NHL routinely play at a high level well into their 30's. What's not being taken into account here, is the salary escalation that is going to happen. 7-8 years from now, an 8M salary will be like 4M today. No to mention that in the middle of the contract, as salaries escalate, the Flyers will have Giroux at a reasonable cost. What's the alternative? Signing another bridge deal, and then letting him test Free Agency? What do you think it will cost you then, as other teams are brought into it. And a bidding war ensues? How'd that work out for Nashville with Weber?
- MJL

Preach!

I just think it is really weird that Homer had said they were not going to resign Hall. Yesterday he goes out and resigns Hall. I understand that looking at it directly, it really shouldnt have an influence, but with Laughton looking primed to come up, and a need at the blue line.. it just makes me think.
- jak521

Maybe Laughton gets traded. Who knows what is going to happen today. I'm hoping it's as simple as moving Meszaros to acquire some cap space. But I think it's going to go beyond that.

@davegisaac Per @TSNBobMcKenzie, it sounds like Ray Emery will officially become a Flyer shortly after free agency begins at noon

this will make my day, always loved emery and if he did not get hurt when we first had him, we may have had a cup and a #1 goalie since, if anyone can put up with us philly fans its emery

I hope they could get a better all around dman for Coutuerier and Coburn than Yandle. But that second group of defenseman does look good.
- Stinkfitz

I wasnt pairing them together, but that is an interesting idea.. I wonder if you could get Yandle and a young offensive prospect like Samuelsson

Snider is staying alive until the Flyers win another cup, he will pay whatever it takes for the latest medical advances.
- vejim

Good. I'm forever grateful he took the risk of bringing NHL hockey back to Philly.

@davegisaac Per @TSNBobMcKenzie, it sounds like Ray Emery will officially become a Flyer shortly after free agency begins at noon

this will make my day, always loved emery and if he did not get hurt when we first had him, we may have had a cup and a #1 goalie since, if anyone can put up with us philly fans its emery
- mydoglicks

2 years, no more, plz Mr Hgb

@davegisaac Per @TSNBobMcKenzie, it sounds like Ray Emery will officially become a Flyer shortly after free agency begins at noon

this will make my day, always loved emery and if he did not get hurt when we first had him, we may have had a cup and a #1 goalie since, if anyone can put up with us philly fans its emery
- mydoglicks

If he gets hurt again it will leave the team up poops creak without a paddle.

Maybe Laughton gets traded. Who knows what is going to happen today. I'm hoping it's as simple as moving Meszaros to acquire some cap space. But I think it's going to go beyond that.
- PLindbergh31

I just have a weird feeling about couts...

Im crossing my fingers that we either stay the same, or come out better not just for this season, but for the future.

don't know if this was posted...

Rich Smith @ ALLlsportsINTEL NHL - Flyers have been shopping Couturier, source says they are attempting to package him and Meszaros in a deal.

One last thought on Briere ..

I thought the main reason he wouldn't accept a trade was because he wanted to be close to his kids. If he had signed with a team in the area after he was bought out I would understand but he pretty much chased the money to Montreal which is nowhere close to where his kids will be for the next 2 years.

I can understand him doing what he did because it was in his best interest to be bought out and get paid 4 mill/yr from Montreal + what the Flyers are paying him not to play but he certainly can't use the "I don't want to be traded because I want to be close to my kids next year" if montreal tries to trade him.
- Flyers_01

His parents and other family members are believed to live in Montreal so that would be likely be better for his kids. I think it was the right thing for Briere not to waive his NMC and accept a trade. He signed that contract and with a buyout, he could have more options to resume his career. Also, I'm not sure if any team that looked at Briere the past few days (NJ, BOS, WSH, MTL, BUF) was looking at trading for Briere with a high cap number months ago.

No they haven't. Giroux's extension can't be front loaded to circumvent the cap so it's a truer measure of his salary. You compare that to Vinny's from 10 years ago. Using the first years of a front loaded cap circumventing contract as an example is misleading. You only win arguments inside your own little mind with your double standards. I'm done with this debate with you.
- phillydentist

I gave you very recent examples of players who have signed in the last few years, to show how salaries have escalated.

But here is my final point on this subject. And I'll ask you for the 4th time. If salaries haven't escalated. How did player salaries take up to 70% of League revenue. And why was there a lockout?

don't know if this was posted...

Rich Smith @ ALLlsportsINTEL NHL - Flyers have been shopping Couturier, source says they are attempting to package him and Meszaros in a deal.
- isaiah520

oy, i'm having chest pains

oy, i'm having chest pains
- Marc D

u know if danny b did reject waiving his ntc at the deadline he is an idiot, because anyone that wanted him would have been for a cup run, and now he is stuck in the smurf village on a not-so good team, i dont see how he will be any help to mtl

oy, i'm having chest pains
- Marc D

I hope Holmgren isn't using Couturier as a "throw in" in order for someone to take Meszaros. That wouldn't be good.

Why was there a lockout is salaries were not escalating?
- MJL

I didn't say salaries aren't escalating on the whole. We were talking salaries of top players like Giroux and Vinny back in the day. The lockout happend because GM's like Holmgren were giving elite money to mediocre players like Bryz and because small market teams can't compete with larger markets. The salary for the average NHL player has escalated for sure. But not much for the top tier which is what we were debating.

I wasnt pairing them together, but that is an interesting idea.. I wonder if you could get Yandle and a young offensive prospect like Samuelsson
- jak521

Oh I thought they were both missing from you bottom lines so I figured that was a proposed trade. If they make a trade similar to that and get a Yandle type. Do we have a defenseman ready to step up after Timmonen retires? seems like the two we just drafted wont be ready.

don't know if this was posted...

Rich Smith @ ALLlsportsINTEL NHL - Flyers have been shopping Couturier, source says they are attempting to package him and Meszaros in a deal.
- isaiah520

watch Homer trade Cooty for a 30 plus D man

2 years, no more, plz Mr Hgb
- Marc D

it may be 1 year, homer said he wanted another goalie with only like one year, so maybe with mason/emery on 1 year deals will turn into some great goalie comp

I just think it is really weird that Homer had said they were not going to resign Hall. Yesterday he goes out and resigns Hall. I understand that looking at it directly, it really shouldnt have an influence, but with Laughton looking primed to come up, and a need at the blue line.. it just makes me think.
- jak521

It certainly open up some room for speculation for sure!